The Irish Duke (34 page)

Johnny looked hopeful. “Devonshire has been lobbying for the reform bill in the Lords, every chance he got.”

“He’s afraid if we don’t reform, the aristocracy could fall,” Bedford declared.

Louisa’s eyes widened. “Do you mean civil war?”

The men at the table looked at one another. “By God, that’s it!” her father declared. “I shall go to King William and tell him he faces civil war unless he creates enough reformist peers to pass the bill. The Duke of Devonshire will back me up.”

 

“Hello, Angus. How are the negotiations coming along?” James took a seat in his Edinburgh attorney’s book-lined office.

“Woodfine’s offer went up from five to six thousand. Then he dithered for a week and would not commit a penny more. I realized he did not have Bedford’s authority to go higher. So I drew up the marriage contract exactly as you stipulated and asked him to present it to the duke. I sent a personal letter to Bedford pointing out how extremely generous the terms of the contract were to Lady Louisa, should she be widowed.”

“You challenged him to match my generosity.”

“Happily, it worked. Yesterday, I received the marriage contract with John Russell’s signature on it.” Murray unfolded the crackling document and James Hamilton signed it.

“Excellent work. I have another task for you, Angus. On my journey, I came across a magnificent estate on the south shore of Loch Laggan. I intend to buy it. Find out who owns it and what price he is asking. I’ll sell some of my lands in Paisley to pay for it.”

 

“James, how lovely to see you!” The Duchess of Bedford embraced her future son-in-law. “It was good of you to travel to Scotland to expedite the wedding contract.”

“Hello, James. I hope you had a pleasant journey.” Louisa poured them all sherry.
You are sinfully handsome. I always forget the impact you have on my senses.

James took the glass Louisa offered and then raised her fingers to his lips.

It was a formal gesture. She saw that his eyes did not light up at the sight of her.

The duchess raised her glass. “Now that the contract has been signed, we can set the wedding date. May is the perfect month for nuptials.”

“Your Grace, I took the opportunity to visit my mother at Haddo House to tell her about my engagement to Lady Louisa. Unfortunately I found her in poor health. She has been extremely ill all winter, and she is not yet strong enough to endure the rigors of a journey to London. I’m afraid we will have to postpone the wedding.”

“James, I’m so sorry.” Lu’s heart went out to him.
No wonder his eyes look so bleak. Postponing the wedding is no hardship. Perhaps we can put it off for months.
She immediately felt remorse and said con-tritely, “I hope with all my heart the Countess of Aberdeen soon regains her health.”

The Duke of Bedford entered the drawing room. “James! I’m so glad you’re back safely. Did you run into any trouble in the northern counties?”

“I stopped at an inn in Derby and heard about the Nottingham riots. I gave Birmingham a wide berth and came by way of Bedfordshire. This is a direct result of the reform bill being thrown out. I’m sorry, Your Grace. Can anything be done?”

“I’m just back from the palace. I believe Devonshire and I have convinced the king that this unrest may deteriorate into civil war if he doesn’t act decisively.”

“I was visiting Mother at Haddo House when Aberdeen arrived. He couldn’t wait to tell me the bill hadn’t passed, and that Wellington had been asked to form a government.”

“Tensions are running so high that the Duke of Wellington has been unsuccessful in his attempts. Tomorrow, the king will return Earl Grey to power. William is going to tell Wellington and his close colleagues to abstain from voting so it can be passed.”

“I don’t want to miss this. I’ll be in my seat every day until the bill passes.”

“Good man. Our votes will be needed.”

Georgina told her husband that Lady Aberdeen remained in poor health and was unable to travel from Scotland to London.

“I’m so sorry, James. I know you are as eager as we are to announce the engagement. Postponing the wedding will be a great disappointment for both you and Louisa.”

None regretted the postponement as much as the Duchess of Bedford. Delayed weddings ran the risk of being canceled. The bride’s mother wanted her daughter safely married to James Hamilton, and sooner rather than later. Her thoughts darted about, searching for a solution to the vexing dilemma.

An hour later when they sat down to dinner, Georgina knew she had the answer. “I’ve just had the most marvelous idea. We can have the wedding at Gordon Castle! When I was a girl, I remember visiting Haddo House with my parents. They are only about twenty-five miles apart.”

“An excellent plan,” John Russell declared. “Ever since your brother George inherited his dukedom and Gordon Castle, he’s deluged the family with invitations.”

“George will be absolutely thrilled to host the entire affair.” Georgina spoke directly to Abercorn. “Since your mother cannot come to London, we’ll take the wedding to her. The journey to the Highlands and the preparations will take the best part of a month. By then, with any luck, Lady Aberdeen will be able to make the short journey to Gordon Castle. She’ll be able to stay as long as she wishes.”

“Your generosity overwhelms me, Your Grace,” James said sincerely. “I had the privilege of meeting the Duke of Gordon when I took advantage of his hospitality at Kinrara.” He glanced at Louisa and saw that she looked stunned at her mother’s suggestion.
I wish things were as they were between us that day we rode together to Kinrara.
Her vulnerability cried out to him, and he suddenly realized that none of the anger he felt was directed at Louisa.
The swine who took advantage of her innocence must bear all the blame.

It slowly dawned on James that love cannot be turned on and off at will. He had given his heart to Lady Lu years ago, and it was still in her keeping.
I am about to take vows to cherish her, and cherish her I will.

“Louisa, you and James must decide on a date before he leaves, so I may send a letter by courier to my brother immediately,” Georgina declared. “I can’t wait to tell Charlotte of our plans. She will jump at the chance to take her family to Gordon Castle.”

After dinner, Louisa took James into the library. She paced to the window and then turned to face him. “I’m sorry you’ve been coerced into marrying me.”

He closed the distance between them and looked down at her. “I’m not the kind of man who can be forced into things, Lu. I’ve always wanted to marry you.” He took her hand in his and squeezed it.

“What about this Gordon Castle idea? Wouldn’t you just rather postpone it?”

“Your mother made the suggestion to accommodate my mother. Your family is exceedingly generous. Mother’s health is precarious, and since I want her to see us marry, I don’t think postponing it is a good idea.”

“James, I’m so sorry. We’d better set a date.” She picked up a calendar from her father’s desk. “How about the first Friday in June?”

“Perfect. That way we can spend the whole summer in Ireland.”

Louisa’s heart began to hammer.
It’s really going to happen!
Her knees turned to water.
I’m not cut out to be a wife. If you marry me, Abercorn, it will be the disappointment of a lifetime.

 

Lady Louisa’s wedding finery and trousseau were packed for Scotland. The rest of her clothes and most cherished personal belongings were put into trunks and transported to Barons Court in Ireland.

While the Duke of Bedford and the Marquis of Abercorn remained in London so they could vote in the House of Lords on the reform bill, the duchess accompanied the bride-to-be and the rest of her children to Gordon Castle. Lady Bedford’s sister Charlotte, the Dowager Duchess of Richmond, and her three youngest daughters traveled with them. In all, five carriages and two baggage wagons were needed to transport the wedding party. Once they arrived, it took two full weeks to prepare for the nuptials.

“I
’ve been on tenterhooks. Where on earth have you been? You do realize our daughter’s wedding is the day after tomorrow?” Georgina was weak with relief.

“I could hardly leave before the reform bill was passed. We celebrated with Johnny, then set out the next day.”

“Father, I’m so happy that Parliament is to be reformed.” Louisa kissed his cheek. “You and Johnny must be jubilant after all these years.”

“The whole country is celebrating. There were fireworks displays everywhere.”

“Congratulations, darling. I’m so proud of Johnny.” Georgina glanced through the window. “Where on earth is James? We cannot have a wedding without a groom.”

“He’s staying at Haddo House tonight. He will accompany his mother here tomorrow. Do stop worrying, darling.”

“Oh good. We’ve prepared a suite with a fireplace for the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen. I’m so thankful my father spared no expense when he had the castle rebuilt.”

“It has a Georgian elegance not seen in many castles. The drainage system alone must have cost a king’s ransom, not to mention the manicured lawns.”

“John, welcome to our humble home,” George Gordon jested. “The deer park is full of green plover, and the salmon are running in the Spey.”

His wife, Elizabeth, came forward to greet Bedford. “Welcome, John. It is such a delight to have all the children here.”

John embraced her warmly. “I suspect you are being kind. They are young savages. It is so good of you both to give my daughter this splendid wedding.”

“It is our pleasure. Georgina and Charlotte have done all the work. No detail has been overlooked. The turreted tower has been turned into the bridal chamber.”

He saw the blush on Louisa’s cheek and smiled at his favorite daughter. “It sounds like it’s going to be the perfect fairy-tale wedding.”

 

The following afternoon the bridegroom arrived accompanied by his brother Claud, his mother, and his stepfather. The Earl and Countess of Aberdeen were warmly welcomed by the bride’s mother and her uncle, the Duke of Gordon. James made the introductions to all the Russells and their extended family.

“This is Louisa,” he said simply as he introduced his wife-to-be to his mother.

Louisa curtsied gracefully.
She looks so frail; my heart goes out to her.
“I am most happy to meet you, Lady Aberdeen.”

“Please call me Harriet. James told me you were lovely, but your beauty takes my breath away.”

The mother of the bride stepped forward. “We mustn’t keep you standing here. Let me take you up to the suite the Duchess of Gordon has had especially prepared for you. You’ll need a sanctuary away from the noise of the Russell siblings. I’ll order you some tea. Please don’t hesitate to ask for anything that will make your stay more comfortable.”

“Thank you. You are most thoughtful.” Harriet glanced across the room and saw her husband in conversation with their host, the Duke of Gordon, and the bride’s father.

“Don’t worry about Aberdeen,” Georgina advised, as she saw George pour the earl a dram of Scotch. “Men much prefer talk of horses, hunting, and fishing. They pretend that wedding details bore them to death, but in reality I warrant it is fear of commitment that paralyzes them.”

Harriet smiled at Louisa and then glanced up at James. “Please bring her up in a little while so we can get to know each other.”

“I will, Mother. Let’s take you up and get you settled first.”

James shows such tender concern for her.
Louisa sighed at the gentle way he placed a powerful arm at the small of her back and led her toward the grand staircase.

“I hope my brother knows how lucky he is.”

Louisa turned and smiled at Claud. “Welcome to Gordon Castle.”

“Are you ready to take on the Irish devil?” he teased.

“Oh Lord, I don’t know. It has all happened so quickly.”

“Quickly?” Claud laughed. “James has been extolling your virtues for a decade.”

Virtues?
Louisa inwardly shuddered at his choice of words.

“Everything comes to the one who waits.”

“Yes . . . everything,” she said faintly.

Georgy came up and took Claud’s arm in a possessive gesture. “Lu, must you monopolize all the attractive men? Isn’t one Hamilton enough for you?”

“More than enough,” she murmured apprehensively.

“Claud, let me give you a tour of the castle. I never did find the dungeons—perhaps we can discover them together. The thought of instruments of torture makes me want to scream with excitement,” Georgy said suggestively.

Claud waggled his eyebrows at Louisa and allowed Georgy to lead him away.

Louisa stared after them with a sense of dismay.
I hope she behaves herself.
Luckily she was distracted from her thoughts by James.

“Mother is looking forward to a visit with you, while you can both be private.”

“Let’s go up now.” Louisa took his arm.

James escorted her upstairs and opened the door to his mother’s suite. “I’ll leave you alone together, but I’ll be back to collect you in half an hour.”

“Louisa, my dear, do come and sit down.” Harriet reclined on a chaise longue before the fire, and her daughter- to-be took a chair close to her.

“My lady, it means so much to James to have you at our wedding. The rigors of the journey to Gordon Castle are bound to take their toll, and it is most generous-hearted of you to make the sacrifice.”

“ ’Tis easy to see you consider others before yourself. James is fortunate that he will have such a caring wife. Meeting you reassures me that all my hopes and dreams will come true. Your marriage will be a happy one because you are in love.”